28. The art of storytelling: How to impact your podcast listeners with Andrew Griffiths

Andrew Griffiths is Australia’s #1 small business author with 12 books now sold in over 60 countries. He speaks about the Power of Storytelling to 500 BNI members in Sydney. Described by most as a street-smart entrepreneur, Andrew bought his first business at the age of 17.

Since then, and for the best part of 30 years, he has owned and operated many small businesses in fields as diversified as retail, consulting, advertising, publishing, and travel.

Today Andrew’s passion is to inspire entrepreneurs by sharing his own experiences. He is a global commentator covering innovative business, customer connection, and entrepreneurialism.

Andrew is featured regularly in various media both within Australia and internationally. He is small business writer and advisor for CBS Interactive.

In this episode we talk about:

The power of storytelling.

The importance of learning how to better engage with an audience.

Why is podcasting seriously hot?

The huge competition in the podcasting space right now and for the coming years.

The importance of planning and understanding.

What are the keys or ways to be better in the podcasting space?

Being relevant is better if you want to stay ahead and succeed.

The greatest opportunity in storytelling for people who are into podcasting.

The wonderful authenticity of creating a story?

How to get the best results from your guests?

The importance of getting feedback from your audience.

Why is storytelling so powerful these days?

The connection of stories which people can relate to and resonate with.

The struggle that some people have with connecting.

Andrew’s programs on how to easily connect and create the right connections through storytelling.

How funny and great stories can motivate and change opinions for some people?

The importance of having few parameters and maintaining guidelines when telling stories.

Raw stories are hotter and get the most response; the real connection and the real engagement.

The importance of authentic and real stories that have relevance to the audience.

The stories that we all need to share.

Interesting information that creates engagement.

The importance of creating a list of interesting stories and anecdotes.

What are the most important things to consider storytelling?

The interesting little takes that, when you bring a personal element into, you tell a bit of your story. It’s amazing what happens on that emotional level.

We create connections through great stories. As podcasters, people will relate and resonate. You’ve got to start with what they know rather than creating that connection.

We like to take action from stories; the funny stories that motivate us and the great stories about losing weight that is relevant to some people.

I like to make my stories raw. Don’t worry about sanitising your stories too much. Don’t be afraid of challenging people with your stories. They’re actually the ones where you really create the greatest connections.

The raw ones that get real responses, the real connection, the real engagement. I try to make my stories real. I think that’s important, that authenticity.

What are the first mistakes that podcasters often make?

You’ve got to make sure that the stories you are telling are relevant to your audience. I see a lot of this happening when people are telling stories that have no relevant to the audience.